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TEACHER ACTIVITY GUIDE

WHAT AFFECTS YEAST GROWTH?
Taken from IFT Experiments in Food Science Series
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
This experiment will illustrate that there are several factors that affect the growth of yeast. A
beneficial microorganism, yeast has been used in the fermentation of foods for thousands of
years. Bread, wine, beer, and fruit are processed and/or preserved using yeast in fermentation.
The by-products of the fermentation process are carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol (ethanol).
ACTIVITY OBJECTIVE
A yeast population is affected by a number of factors, the control of which is essential for
optimal activity. These factors include pH, temperature, nutrient availability, and the
concentration of available nutrients. By determining which factors affect the yeast activity, these
variables can be controlled in the fermentation process.
This experiment will illustrate to the student that the growth of yeast is affected by pH,
temperature, and nutrient level and that one natural by-product of this fermentation process is
carbon dioxide.
ACTIVITY LENGTH
It is suggested that students be put into collaborative groups for this activity for several reasons.
First, this limits the amount of materials needed. Second, more activities can be conducted in a
shorter amount of time. And third, students will experience working as a team. Depending on
the amount of teacher preparation done prior to the activity, all of the lab experiments can be
done in a typical classroom period of 30-45 minutes.
This activity can be conducted in several ways-with all students in groups repeating all tests;
dividing the class into four groups, with each group conducting one section of the tests; or
dividing the class into groups of four students, with some groups repeating tests.
Solutions may be prepared by the students, or ahead of time by the teacher.
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES
All living organisms, large and small, have one thing in common: the cell. This is a tiny living
factory capable of converting simple food substances into energy and new cell material and of
reproducing itself.
Microorganisms are made up of a very few cells, or even a single cell, capable of carrying on all
of lifes processes. A basic understanding of cell structure and function is essential to
understanding the actions of bacteria, yeast, and molds. Since the cell is the basic unit of all

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living things, one might think it is a simple structure. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The cell is complex in its makeup and its function. Many scientists have spent their lives
studying it. The main parts of the cell are the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell wall. The nucleus is
the control center-it directs cell division, the formation of new cells. The cytoplasm contains the
parts that convert food material into energy and new cell materials. The cell wall or membrane
holds everything together and controls the passage of material into and out of the cell.
Yeasts are small, single-celled plants. They are members of the fungus family (plural = fungi),
which also includes mushrooms. Fungi differ from other plants in that they have no chlorophyll.
While bacteria thrive on many different types of food, yeasts require carbohydrates, such as
sugar and starch. (However, the yeast used in this experiment, Saccharomyces cerevisiae,
cannot utilize starch). From these, they produce carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and alcohol. Thus,
they have been useful to man for centuries in the production of certain foods and beverages.
They are responsible for the rising of bread dough and the fermentation of wines, whiskey,
brandy, and beer. They also play the initial role in the production of vinegar.
Some yeasts are psychrotrophs, meaning that they can grow at relatively low temperatures. In
fact, the fermentation of wines and beer is often carried out at temperatures near 7C. This also
means that they can create a spoilage problem in meat coolers and other refrigerated storage
areas.
Unlike bacteria, which multiply by binary fission (cell division), yeasts reproduced by a method
called budding. A small knob or bud forms on the parent cell, grows, and finally separates to
become a new yeast cell. Although this is the most common method of reproduction, yeasts also
multiply by forming spores.
Because they can grow under conditions of high salt or sugar content, yeasts can cause the
spoilage of certain foods in which bacteria would not grow. Examples are honey, jellies, maple
syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Foods produced by the bacterial fermentation process,
such as pickles and saurerkraut, can also be spoiled by yeasts which interfere with the normal
fermentative process.
VOCABULARY
Aerobic-requiring oxygen or air for growth
Anaerobic-growth in the absence of oxygen
Budding-reproduction in which a small part of the cell wall swells out and a wall of cellulose
soon shuts off this new growth from the parent plant. It becomes an independent cell, soon
growing other buds.
By-product - one result of a chemical process.
Facultative anaerobes - microorganisms that can grow with or without oxygen
Fermentation - the process by which compound sugars and some starches are converted into
simple sugars, which are further hydrolyzed into alcohol and CO2.
Generation time - the time it takes for a microbial cell to double
Psychrotrophs - microbes that grow at refrigeration temperature

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Yeasts - tiny, one-celled, oval-shaped, microscopic plants which can be found naturally in the
nectar of flowers, on the surface of fruits, and in the soil.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Safety goggles
125-mL Erlenmeyer flasks or small (8-oz) glass soft-drink bottles
Balloons, 7.8-cm (7-inch) size
Table sugar (sucrose)
Fructose, lactose, and glucose from science supply catalog or health food store
PH paper
Wax pencil or marker
Masking tape
Large bottle or 16 packages of rapid-rise yeast
Vinegar
Ammonia
Clock or stopwatch
Warm water bath (40C and 80C)
Triple-beam balances or scales
100-mL graduated cylinders
Eyedropper
Thermometers
STUDENT EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Group 1 Temperature Experiment
Label flasks A through D. Add 80 mL of tap water (neutral pH only) to each flask and place the
flasks in the following conditions:
Flask A in ice bath.
Flask B at room temperature.
Flask C in 40C water bath.
Flask D in 80C water bath.
Dissolve 5 g of sucrose in each flask. Add 4 g of rapid-rise yeast to each flask and stir. Then
place a balloon on each flask and seal it securely with masking tape. Periodically stir the
contents by spinning the flask slowly.
Group 2 Water Activity Experiment
Label flasks E through H. Add 80 mL of 40C water (neutral pH only) to each flask and dissolve
the following amounts of sucrose in each:
Flask E 0 g (water only)
Flask F 5 g

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Flask G 30 g
Flask H 50 g
Add 4 g of rapid-rise yeast to each solution and stir. Then place a balloon on each flask and seal
it securely with masking tape. Periodically stir the contents by spinning the flask slowly.
Group 3 pH Experiment
Label flasks I through L. Add 80 mL of tap water (neutral pH only) to each flask and add
vinegar or ammonia to adjust the pH as shown below. Use pH paper to verify the pH.
Flask I add vinegar to adjust the pH to 3.
Flask J add vinegar to adjust the pH to 5.
Flask K add vinegar or ammonia to adjust the pH to 7.
Flask L add ammonia to adjust the pH to 10.
Dissolve 5 g of sucrose in each flask and warm the solutions to 40C. Add 4 g of rapid-rise yeast
to each solution and stir. Then place a balloon on each flask and seal it securely with masking
tape. Periodically stir the contents by spinning the flask slowly.
Group 4 Nutrient Experiment
Label flask M through P. Add 80 mL of tap water (neutral pH only) at 40C to each flask and
dissolve 5 g of each of the following sugars:
Flask M fructose
Flask N glucose
Flask O sucrose
Flask P lactose
Add 4 g of rapid-rise yeast to each solution and stir. Then place a balloon on each flask and seal
it securely with masking tape. Periodically stir the contents by spinning the flask slowly.
All Groups Observations
1. After 15 minutes, record initial observations in the table provided for each test. Then
make additional observations at 10-minute intervals, and final observations. These
observations should include a description of the fermentation activity and a measure of
the amount of gas produced, either by measuring the actual volume of gas produced (see
ancillary activities below) or by measuring the circumference of the balloon. To measure
the circumference, wrap a string around the balloon at its widest point, then measure the
length of the string.
2. Prepare bar graphs of balloon circumference (or cm3 of gas produced) against each of the
following:

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Temperature
PH
Type of Sugar
Water activity
TEACHING TIPS

Warm water baths (40C and 80C) should be set up prior to the experiments for the
placement of the flasks (except for the temperature experiment). If a commercial water
bath is not available, a Styrofoam chest or bucket can be used. A pot of hot water will
need to be available to add water as needed to maintain the water temperature in the
water baths.

There is a tendency for the flasks to float in the water bath during incubation. To prevent
this, the students can physically hold down the flasks, use lead donuts around the neck
of the flasks, tape the flasks to the side of the water bath, or add enough marbles to the
flasks prior to water addition to keep the flasks from floating.

Caution: Remind students to be careful when attaching balloons to the flasks. They
must carefully tape the balloon securely to the flask to avoid any leaks. Also, they must
remove the balloons very carefully, as the foam, which will rise into the balloons, will be
expelled under great pressure on removal. It is suggested that the balloons remain
attached to the flasks until the next class period to allow the CO2 gas to escape overnight.

It is important that the tap water be warmed to about 40C for each test prior to adding
the sugar and yeast. Keep enough water available at this temperature for all tests.

Students may use a lighted match to demonstrate that CO2 is present in the balloons, as
follows: Trap some of the gas from the flask into a test tube. (See ancillary activities
below). Place the lighted match into it. The match should be immediately extinguished.
(Here is an opportunity to discuss the use of CO2 in fire extinguishers).

In the temperature experiment (Group 1), Flask C should show the best production of
CO2 as 40C is the ideal temperature for yeast growth. There should be little or no
production of CO2 in Flasks A, B and D. Students should make observations regarding
the fact that there is no foam in Flask D. They may be confused about the slight
expansion of the balloon in Flask D. This is a result of air being heating inside the flask,
which causes slight expansion of the balloon.

In the water activity experiment (Group 2), Flask H should show little growth. In this
solution, enough sugar is present to tie up the water molecules so that the yeast growth is
inhibited. Flask E is the control in this test and should show no growth. Any inflation is
due to air being heated inside the flask. As an additional experiment, have students try
other sugar concentrations.

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In the pH experiment (Group 3), there should be the most growth in Flask K because the
ideal pH for yeast growth is around 7. There should be little or no growth in flasks I, J,
and L. As an additional experiment, have students try additional pH levels.

In the nutrient experiment (Group 4), Flask M should have the fastest-expanding balloon,
since fructose is a simple sugar and therefore requires fewer steps to hydrolyze it to
alcohol and CO2 . Flasks N and O will produce expanded balloons that are almost equal
in size; however, since glucose is a simpler sugar than sucrose, the balloon on Flask N
may expand faster. There should be no expansion in Flask P, since bakers yeast does not
produce the enzyme lactase needed to hydrolyze lactose during fermentation.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. What observations did you make about the flasks prior to the addition of the yeast?
Ans. Most sugar is dissolved, though some undissolved sugar may remain visible.
2. Which flasks showed the greatest yeast growth, i.e., most production of CO2 gas?
Ans. Answers may vary, but should generally be: Flask C in test 1; Flask G in test 2;
Flask K in test 3; and Flask M in test 4.
3. Did the contents of the flasks look the same at the end of the test time? Why or why not?
Ans. No, there should be a good deal of foaming present in many of the flasks. These
changes are due to fermentations having taken place to yield CO2 and alcohol.
4. Knowing what you have learned about yeast food, do you think yeast will hydrolyze
gelatin or fat?
Ans. No. Yeast will not ferment fat or protein. The only nutrients yeast uses for energy
are sugars and starches.
5. Which were the most favorable conditions for growth?
Ans. The most favorable conditions were 40C (slightly warm temperature), neutral pH
(pH 7), and the presence of sucrose and fructose.
6. Which were the least favorable conditions for growth?
Ans. The least favorable conditions were too high or low pH, too hot or cold
temperature, too much or too little sugar, and the presence of lactose.
ANCILLARY ACTIVITES

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1. To quantify the amount of CO2 produced, a flask containing the test solutions may be
stoppered with a glass tube extending from the stopper, as shown in Figure 1. Rubber or
plastic tubing is connected to the glass rod on the flask and then placed inside a 250-mL
graduated cylinder that has been filled with water and turned upside down in a water
bath. As the CO2 is expelled from the flask, it travels through the tubing and into the
graduated cylinder. The water in the cylinder is displaced into the water bath at the same
rate as the gas is expelled.
2. In place of the flasks and cylinders, 15-mL graduated conical centrifuge tubes with caps
(Corning #25319) can be used. For further information, see Fermentation, Respiration,
and Enzyme Specificity: A Simple Devide and key Experiments with Yeast, by L.
Reinking, J. Reinking, and K. Miller. The American Biology Teacher, March 1994, pp.
164-168.

3. Incubate at different temperature.

4. Replace sugar with 5 g of cooking oil, corn starch, or gelatin. These variations will
illustrate that yeast is unable to utilize protein or fat.
5. Grind one Lactaid or Dairy Ease tablet into a flask containing 5 g of lactose and 80 mL of
water. Incubate at 40C for 5 minutes. After the addition of the yeast, fermentation will
occur because the Lactaid or Dairy Ease has broken down (hydrolyzed) the lactose into a
mixture of glucose and galactose. While yeasts are unable to utilize the disaccharide
lactose, they are able to ferment the monosaccharides glucose and fructose. This would
be an ideal time to discuss lactose intolerance in humans.

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DATA TABLE (Typical Results)

Test/Flask
Temperature

Conditions

Sucrose + Ice bath

Fermentation observed

Gas produceda

None

Little or none

Sucrose + Room
temperature

Some initially

Some

Sucrose + 40 C

The most

The most

Sucrose + 80 C

None

Slight

40 C + No sucrose

None

Little or none

40 C + 5 g sucrose

Some initially

Some

40 C + 30 g
sucrose

The most

The most

40 C + 50 g
sucrose

Little

Little

Water activity
E

Balloon circumference in cm or volume of gas produced in cm3

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DATA TABLE (Typical Results), continued

Conditions

40 C + pH 3

None

Little or none

40 C + pH 5

Some initially

Some

40 C + pH 7

The most

The most

40 C + pH 10

None

Little or none

40 C + Fructose

The most

The most

40 C + Glucose

Some

Some

40 C + Sucrose

Some

Some

40 C + Lactose

None

Little or none

Fermentation observed

Gas produceda

Test/Flask
pH

Nutrient
E

Balloon circumference in cm or volume of gas produced in cm3